A young Harry Potter fan who was almost killed saving his best pal's life has been left with a scar just like his Hogwarts hero.

Shay Corrie, nine, was left in a coma after he threw himself in front of five-year-old Jack Briggs and took the full impact of a seven tonne lorry.

But he fought back from the brink of death and is now back home, proudly showing his pals a crooked scar on his forehead - exactly like the young wizard's.

Shay and Jack both ended up fighting for their lives after they were struck by the lorry as they walked home from collecting conkers near their homes in Houghton-Le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, in August.

Bespectacled Shay spotted the recovery wagon at the last minute and tried to shield Jack from the impact.

He put his arm around his small friend and tried to push him out of the vehicle's path but took the brunt of the impact, was thrown in the air and suffered serious head injuries.

Mum Judith, 39, who kept a five-day vigil at his bedside, said: "Shay had suffered a massive brain haemorrhage.

"Several other cuts to his head were stitched and he has swathed in bandages until he was allowed home."

Once his stitches removed, it was revealed Shay had been left with a zig-zag scar on his forehead just like Harry Potter. "Of course he was still very poorly after he got out of hospital," Judith added, "But he soon started to feel quite proud about his scar - more proud of that than his actual act itself!"

Re-reading his Harry Potter books, watching the films on video, playing the computer games and messing with his Harry Potter sweet maker filled Shay's two-month convalescence and he's desperate for the new film to be released.

The little hero has also been short-listed for a national magazine's Children of Courage award and in the last two weeks has been able to return to school.

Judith said: "He still needs his wheelchair for long distances, still has regular neurological check-ups and is going to suffer migraines for the rest of his life, but so far, fingers crossed, he's finally on the mend.

"He is a huge fan of Harry Potter and fell in love with the books some time ago.

"Harry is his hero. He has watched both the films countless times and he can hardly wait for the next one to come out.

"It really helped him to recover to read the books and play the computer games, it kept his mind occupied.

"Now he actually has a scar just like Harry's and he is as proud as can be, he shows it to everyone.

"One of the things that frustrated him straight after the accident was that he was suffering headaches and couldn't read the last Potter book.

"But he was determined and he was reading as soon as he was able to."

Jack has also made a full recovery from the accident and described Shay as his hero. But Shay said: "I just wanted to stop the truck and the only thing I could think of was to hold out my hand and grab hold of Jack. I'm not a hero."

Judith and husband Steve, 45, said it was typical of their son. She said: "That's the kind of thing he would have done to help his little pal. He's a kind, caring boy."

Jack's mother Jeanette, 32, a housewife, and stepdad Andrew Eddon, 32, a builder, spoke of their gratitude. Mr Eddon said: "We've been told that Shay took hold of Jack in his arms and then put his hand out in an effort to stop the truck.

"It was extremely brave of him. They had known each other for only two weeks and Shay loves our Jack. They are inseperable."

In JK Rowling's story, Harry Potter is scarred when the evil Lord Voldermort tries to kill him as a baby.